Tag: Doctoral Students

STEP UP Digital Research Technical Career and Bridging Placements

STEP‑UP invites applications for 1–3 month funded placements that develop specialist skills in research software, data, and computing infrastructure. Participants will work within a digital Research Technical Professional (dRTP) team at Imperial College London, King’s College London, UCL, or the University of Westminster.

STEP-UP – a Strategic TEchnical Platform for University technical Professionals – is a UK-based research project funded under the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)’s 2023 Strategic Technical Platforms call.

What you gain

  • Build advanced technical and professional skills.
  • Exchange best practices across institutions.
  • Use placement time to bridge gaps between projects.
  • Strengthen future career opportunities.

You can apply if you are:

  • A dRTP (i.e. working on research software, data or computing infrastructure) in any role at one of the four STEP‑UP partner institutions, or
  • A UK‑based PhD student or postdoc seeking experience as a dRTP and not employed during the placement.

All placements must occur within a partner‑institution dRTP team.

Funding

STEP‑UP provides up to £15,550, covering 80% of salary and on‑costs, plus eligible fees such as visa or bench costs. (Overheads and indirect costs are excluded.)

If you want to grow your technical capability and collaborate across the London dRTP community, this scheme offers a high‑impact route to do so.

Find out more and apply: https://step-up.ac.uk/placements/

Volunteer at the Great Exhibition Road Festival (apply by 15 May)

The Great Exhibition Road Festival is back, and we need volunteers like YOU to make it happen! Taking place on 6-7 June 2026, this annual free event includes amazing hands-on activities, workshops and talks & performances, all celebrating science and the arts.

Click here to sign up to volunteer
Click here to find out more about volunteering

Volunteer registration closes on 15 May 2026. Please note that this opportunity is open to Imperial staff and students only.

Quality Management Systems (QMS) for Medical Devices Online Course

The MedTechONE team is excited to announce launch of our new course, Quality Management Systems (QMS) for Medical Devices — designed to support professionals working across the medical device lifecycle. 

Developed by experts at Imperial College, this course provides a clear and practical introduction to the policies, processes, and procedures manufacturers implement to ensure medical devices are safe, effective, and fit for their intended use. Whether you’re new to QMS or looking to strengthen your understanding, the course offers a strong foundation. 

What to expect from the course:

·                Engaging video-based learning, narrated by an AI avatar 

·                Downloadable lecture notes to support deeper understanding and further reading 

·                Light assessments throughout to help reinforce key concepts as you progress 

The course is designed to be flexible and accessible, allowing you to learn at your own pace while building confidence in QMS principles relevant to the medical device sector. 

Watch our short introductory video to explore what the course covers. 

Enrol Here: Imperial College staff and students can self-enrol via Blackboard using their Imperial credentials only — no additional registration is required. 

The Greenhouse: apply now for Cohort 10 (deadline: 10 April)

  • For: early-stage (pre-seed/seed) UK-based startups/spinouts (registered in the UK or willing to do so) tackling climate change with science- or tech-based innovations – including deep-tech
  • What startups get:
    • 12-month accelerator support programme to move from lab to commercial traction and get investor-ready
    • Up to £20k equity-free grant funding
    • Office space in the White City Innovation District
    • Access to Imperial’s world class facilities, expertise, and networks
    • Coaching and mentoring by experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts

Find out more & apply

Good Science Project Conference: ‘Failure in Science’ (16 April 2026)

All early career researchers are invited to the Good Science Project’s third research culture conference, this year called ‘Failure in Science’. The date is April 16, and you can register here. The conference is all-day and is co-convened by Professor Mary Ryan, our Vice-Provost and Dr Magdalena Skipper, editor-in-chief of Nature. There will be plenty of discussion and plenty of opportunity to meet people from across the College and from other universities. You are guaranteed a good time.

The conference will explore the many ways failure is part of the life of science. We will be considering the way we tend to erase failure and we will discuss how failure has institutional and political dimensions, alongside our personal responses. Part of the day will include a scripted presentation, about their own experiences of failure by six researchers.

Find out more & Register

 

NEW **5-days Comprehensive course in R** (11-15 May 2026)

NEW **5-days Comprehensive course in R** from Statistical Advisory Service

Discounted registration fees for Imperial College members and Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust members.

Exclusive Student registration rates for all students. Part Attendance options available.

R UNLOCKED – From first steps to Advanced Modelling – Monday 11 to Friday 15 May 2026

Course Outline: This five-days hands-on course will cover the fundamentals of R, using tidyverse package for summarising and data visualisation (using ggplot2 package), introductory statistics, and modelling techniques for continuous, binary, and survival outcomes. Whether you are new to R or looking to strengthen your analytical toolkit, this course offers a structured, supportive pathway to developing data skills and analysing techniques.

Entry requirements: No previous knowledge of R or statistics is required to attend this course.

Registration Link : https://imperial.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eLj0zPYqoWITTVA

Contact on stathelp@imperial.ac.uk for any queries.

 

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Statistical Advisory Service, Imperial College London provides statistical advice via one-to-one consultations. https://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/support-for-staff/stats-advice-service/consult/

Statistical Advisory Service offers courses in STATA, R, SPSS and MATLAB. See all courses offered by us: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/support-for-staff/stats-advice-service/courses/

1:1 Research Communication Coaching

Strengthen your research communication through personalised 1:1 coaching

Are you an Imperial doctoral researcher wanting to express your ideas more clearly, confidently and impactfully? Book a personalised 1:1 meeting with a CfAE coach to identify your most important areas for development and get targeted guidance to elevate your writing or speaking.

You can either discuss a sample of your research writing or prepared speech, or just come for advice on your writing or speaking in general. You’re welcome to take advantage of these meetings throughout your time at Imperial and can usually book a couple each term.

Here are some of the questions you might want to ask:

  • I’m struggling to organise my points in this part – how can I make it clearer?
  • I’m not sure what information is relevant for my audience here?
  • My literature review reads like a shopping list – how do I create a narrative to hold it together?
  • I feel I don’t sound ‘professional’ enough – how can I improve that?
  • I’m not sure how to speak with my own ‘voice’

And here’s what some of our attendees have to say:

“Already after yesterday’s meeting I feel much more confident and like I suddenly know what I am doing.”

“I just wanted to say a big, big thank you for the advice you gave me in our meeting. I just got some feedback from the second examiner of my Late Stage Assessment. I have passed the assessment, and the examiner found that my writing was much improved, compared to my earlier LSA attempt.”

For more information and to book, go to the CfAE 1:1 advice webpage.

Able network for disabled staff, research postgrads and allies

Able is a disability network that creates a supportive community for disabled staff, postgraduate research students and allies. The network welcomes those who live with a disability and/or physical or mental health condition, whether life-long, newly acquired, self-identified or diagnosed, regardless of whether they identify as disabled or not. They also encourage allies who are supportive of disability equality and equity in the workplace.

Each Friday morning at 9.00am the group meets for a virtual coffee and chat, where members can discuss topics relating to disability, share their lived experiences and become part of a community.

Find out more about the Able network and sign up by completing the online form.

Virtual ‘Introductory Medical Statistics’ course – 21 & 22 May 2026

The ‘Introductory Medical Statistics’ course will be held on Thursday 21 (pm) to Friday 22 May (am) 2026 – one day in total.

The course is run by statisticians and epidemiologists based at NHLI and will be held and recorded on Microsoft Teams. Recordings will be circulated afterwards and delegates also receive an individual attendance certificate.

It is suitable for doctors (including trainee grades), nurses, allied health professionals, clinical research fellows and postgraduate students, and aims to provide an introduction to basic statistical concepts.

Booking link

https://estore.imperial.ac.uk/product-catalogue/faculty-of-medicine/nhli/online-introductory-medical-statistics-course-may-2026

Registration fees (VAT doesn’t apply):

  • MSc/PhD Students (full time students without another source of income): £125
  • Academic/NHS/Charities (those working in the NHS, at a university or in the charitable sector): £195
  • Corporate/Other (those working in the private sector): £245
  • NB: Imperial College staff and students can pay via internal journal/transfer, using an Imperial finance code.  Please contact Magda Wheatley on m.wheatley@imperial.ac.uk for further details (you don’t then need to book online).

Total number of places available

Places are offered on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis.  Please note that the course can accommodate 45 delegates only, and that the course tends to fill up quickly.  Registration will close when the course is full.

Accreditation

Six CPD points are currently being sought.

Estranged Students Support Group (25 Feb, 25 Mar, 29 Apr, 20 May)

Estranged Students Support Group (co-led by Underrepresented Student Support Team and Student Counselling and Mental Health Advice Service)

When? 25 February, 25 March, 29 April, 20 May, 1-2pm

Where? South Ken Campus, Chemistry Building, Level 8

What? A confidential space for students who are estranged from both parents to meet others in similar situations to share their experiences of studying without parental support.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/200486/estranged-students-support-group/